DONE +++ Nakajima J9N1 "Kikka"; ATAIU SEA, Singapore, Jan. 1946

Dizzyfugu · November 15, 2020, 11:48:45 PM

Coming soon: #4 will be a captured Japanese aircraft in Allied colors, and I settled upon a captured Nakajima "Kikka" single seater in Britisch markings and under investigation by the Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA) at RAF Seletar in Singapore in late 1945.

Dizzyfugu · November 16, 2020, 11:15:24 PM

Hardware work has started and progress is good - the AZ Models kit I use is a simple affair, but that's also its problem. In the box things looked quite good, detail level is on par with a classic Matchbox kit. But unlike a Matchbox kit, the AZ Models offering does not go together... $:-\$ I had to fight everywhere with poor fit, lack of locator pins, ejector marks - anything a short run model kit can throw at you. One upper wing half was bent so that I tried to counter the flaw with force - and the part even broke! What worked surprisingly well is the canopy, though.

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

However, painting will probably start today. My idea is to present a "one-aircraft-made-from-two-wrecks" finish, so that the model won't look too uniform and dull.

PR19_Kit · November 17, 2020, 03:52:49 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on November 16, 2020, 11:15:24 PM

My idea is to present a "one-aircraft-made-from-two-wrecks" finish, so that the model won't look too uniform and dull.

That's a neat idea, I like it.

Sounds a typical AZ kit from my experiences with them.

Dizzyfugu · November 17, 2020, 05:39:36 AM

Yes, it's quite horrible, despite the good looks of the parts on the sprues... $:-\$

NARSES2 · November 17, 2020, 06:47:03 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on November 17, 2020, 03:52:49 AM

Sounds a typical AZ kit from my experiences with them.

Some are relatively nice builds, but their 109's (I've only built the K's) are really nice. Often wondered if they had different mould/tool makers for the different kits ?

jcf · November 17, 2020, 05:37:34 PM

Quote from: NARSES2 on November 17, 2020, 06:47:03 AM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on November 17, 2020, 03:52:49 AM

Sounds a typical AZ kit from my experiences with them.

Some are relatively nice builds, but their 109's (I've only built the K's) are really nice. Often wondered if they had different mould/tool makers for the different kits ?

The Kikka was a new tool in 2012; the 109G kit that is the basis of the K was a new tool in 2013.

Dizzyfugu · November 18, 2020, 12:22:56 AM

Painting made good progress, closing in on decals. I gave the model an overall coat of aluminum (and with Red Stars added, this would have made another interesting whif!) and started adding cloudy shades of IJN Green and section with RAF Dark Green to the upper surfaces, and light grey underneath. One engine was furthermore painted in a shaggy Japanese primer red-brown, looks like rust...

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

I also added overpainted IJN markings with U.S. olive drab for some more contrast, even though these will later be at least partly hidden under decals. Currently doing some black ink washing for more weathering and contrast and yellow leading edge markings with decal material. RAF roundels and other markings follow soon. A pretty, elegant aircraft, and it's relatively small when compared with a Me 262 or a Meteor.

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · November 19, 2020, 12:19:02 AM

Finished the Kitsuka yesterday. A pretty aircraft. Pics follow soon, when I have finished the Chechen MiG-21's "visual evidence".

Here's a look at the item during its final assembly stages:

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The "ATAIU SEA" slogans were painted by hand, since I did not want to invest into an aftermarket decal sheet - and even then the decals would have been too large for the slender Kikka. But after some wet sanding of the white acrylic paint these markings received a nice hand-made and worn touch, just as in real life.

Dizzyfugu · November 22, 2020, 02:27:21 AM

Updated the previous WiP posts with pics and some additional info. Beauty pics next.

su27rules · November 22, 2020, 08:38:08 AM

Dizzyfugu · November 23, 2020, 12:01:15 AM

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some background:
The Nakajima J9N Kitsuka (中島橘花, "Orange Blossom", pronounced Kikka in Kanji used traditionally by the Japanese) was Japan's first jet aircraft. In internal IJN documents it was also called Kōkoku Nigō Heiki (皇国二号兵器, "Imperial Weapon No.2"). After the Japanese military attaché in Germany witnessed trials of the Messerschmitt Me 262 in 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy issued a request to Nakajima to develop a similar aircraft to be used as a fast attack bomber. Among the specifications for the design were the requirements that it should be able to be built largely by unskilled labor, and that the wings should be foldable. This latter feature was not intended for potential use on aircraft carriers, but rather to enable the aircraft to be hidden in caves and tunnels around Japan as the navy began to prepare for the defense of the home islands.

Nakajima designers Kazuo Ohno and Kenichi Matsumura laid out an aircraft that bore a strong but superficial resemblance to the Me 262. Compared to the Me 262, the J9N airframe was noticeably smaller and more conventional in design, with straight wings (lacking the slight sweepback of the Me 262) and tail surfaces. The triangular fuselage cross section characteristic of the German design was less pronounced, due to smaller fuel tanks. The main landing gear of the Kikka was taken from the A6M Zero and the nose wheel from the tail of a Yokosuka P1Y bomber.
The Kikka was designed in preliminary form to use the Tsu-11, a rudimentary motorjet style jet engine that was essentially a ducted fan with an afterburner. Subsequent designs were planned around the Ne-10 (TR-10) centrifugal-flow turbojet, and the Ne-12, which added a four-stage axial compressor to the front of the Ne-10. Tests of this powerplant soon revealed that it would not produce anywhere near the power required to propel the aircraft, and the project was temporarily stalled. It was then decided to produce a new axial flow turbojet based on the German BMW 003.

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Development of the engine was troubled, based on little more than photographs and a single cut-away drawing of the BMW 003. A suitable unit, the Ishikawa-jima Ne-20, was finally built in January 1945. By that time, the Kikka project was making progress and the first prototype made its maiden flight. Due to the worsening war situation, the Navy considered employing the Kikka as a kamikaze weapon, but this was quickly rejected due to the high cost and complexity associated with manufacturing contemporary turbojet engines. Other more economical projects designed specifically for kamikaze attacks, such as the simpler Nakajima Tōka (designed to absorb Japanese stock of obsolete engines), the pulsejet-powered Kawanishi Baika, and the infamous Yokosuka Ohka, were either underway or already in mass production.

The following month the prototype was dismantled and delivered to Kisarazu Naval Airfield where it was re-assembled and prepared for flight testing. The aircraft performed well during a 20-minute test flight, with the only concern being the length of the takeoff run – the Ne 20 only had a thrust of 4.66 kN (1,047 lbf), and the engine pair had barely sufficient power to get the aircraft off the ground. This lack of thrust also resulted in a maximum speed of just 623 km/h (387 mph, 336 kn) at sea level and 696 km/h (432 mph; 376 kn) at 10,000 m (32,808 ft).
For the second test flight, four days later, rocket assisted take off (RATO) units were fitted to the aircraft, which worked and gave the aircraft acceptable field performance. The tests went on, together with a second prototype, but despite this early test stage, the J9N was immediately rushed into production.

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

By May 1945 approximately forty airframes had been completed and handed over to IJN home defense frontline units for operational use and conversion training. These were structurally identical with the prototypes, but they were powered by more potent and reliable Ne-130 (with 8.826 kN/900 kgf) or Ne-230 (8.679 kN/885 kg) engines, which finally gave the aircraft a competitive performance and also made the RATO boosters obsolete - unless an 800 kg bomb was carried in overload configuration. Most of them were J9N1 day fighter single seaters, armed with two 30 mm Type 5 cannons with 50 rounds per gun in the nose, but a few were unarmed two-seaters (J9N2) with dual controls and a second seat instead of the fuselage fuel tank, what markedly limited the aircraft's range but was accepted for a trainer.
Some operational Kitsukas also had, due to the lack of equipment, the 30 mm guns replaced with lighter 20 mm Ho-5 cannon. A small number, both single- and two-seaters, were also equipped with an experimental centimeter waveband FD-2 radar in the nose with an "antler" antenna array, similar to German radar sets of the time. In order to fit the electronics, the machines typically had one of the nose-mounted guns replaced by a fixed, obliquely firing Ho-5 gun ("Schräge Musik"-style) behind the cockpit. These machine received the suffix "-S" and flew a few quite effective missions against American B-29 bombers, but their impact was minimal due to the aircrafts' small numbers and poor reliability of the still experimental radar system.

Proposed follow-on versions had included a reconnaissance aircraft and a fast attack aircraft that was supposed to carry a single bomb under the fuselage against ships. There was also a modified version of the design to be launched from a 200 m long catapult, the "Nakajima Kikka-kai Prototype Turbojet Special Attacker". All these proposed versions were expected to be powered by more advanced developments of the Ne-20, the Ne-330 with 13 kN (1.330 kg) thrust, but none of them reached the hardware stage.

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The J9Ns' war contribution was negligible, and after the war, several airframes (including partial airframes) were captured by Allied forces. Three airframes (including a two-seat night fighter with FD-2 radar) were brought to the U.S. for study, two damaged day fighters were handed over to the RAF and transferred to RAF Seletar, where the airframes were, together with spares, combined into a single flyworthy J9N1 designated "FE (Foreign Equipment) 269" and tested by the Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit. These tests did not last long, though, because the engines were in poor condition and only lasted for four test flights until one failed fatally and caused a fire: at least one compressor blade had separated and ruptured fuel and oil lines. The pilot was able to leave the burning and disintegrating aircraft but was hit by the tail and was badly injured. However, he survived, but FE 269 crashed into the Street of Sohor.

Today, two J9N examples survive in the National Air and Space Museum: The first is a Kikka that was taken to the Patuxent River Naval Air Base, Maryland for analysis. This aircraft is very incomplete and is believed to have been patched together from a variety of semi-completed airframes. It is currently still in storage at the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration and Storage Facility in Silver Hill, MD.
The second Kikka is on display at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center in the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar.

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Length: 8.125 m (26 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 13.2 m² (142 sq ft)
Empty weight: 2,300 kg (5,071 lb)
Gross weight: 3,500 kg (7,716 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,080 kg (8,995 lb)

Powerplant:
2× Ishikawajima Ne-130 or Ne-230 axial-flow turbojet engines with 8.83 kN/900 kg or 8.68 kN/885 kg thrust, respectively

Performance:
Maximum speed: 812 km/h (505 mph, 438 kn)
Range: 980 km (610 mi, 530 nmi) with internal fuel
Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 12.9 m/s (2,540 ft/min)
Wing loading: 265 kg/m² (54 lb/sq ft)
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 0.43

Armament:
2× 30 mm (1.181 in) Type 5 cannon with 50 RPG in the nose
1× ventral hardpoint for a 500 l drop tank or a single 500 kg (1,102 lb) or 800 kg (1,764 lb) bomb

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima J9N1 "Kitsuka" (橘花, a.k.a. "Kikka"), aircraft "FE 269", operated by the Royal Air Force, Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit - Southeast Asia (ATAIU-SEA); RAF Seletar (Singapore), January 1946 (Whif/AZ Models kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

I had the Kikka earmarked for a different build, but I think this ATAIU livery adds an interesting twist to the model, it looks pretty plausible. Besides, the Kitsuka is a pretty, elegant aircraft, and it's relatively small (even petit) when compared with a contemporary Me 262 or a Meteor!

NARSES2 · November 23, 2020, 06:28:07 AM

That's come out well Dizzy

The ATAIU markings look really good. I find that "rough and ready/temporary" markings can be some of the most difficult to portray well without overdoing it.

Dizzyfugu · November 23, 2020, 06:58:36 AM

Thank you, glad you like it. I think the hand-written style works in this case, and it adds an individual touch. Inspired by real-world ATAIU- aicraft like these:

PR19_Kit · November 23, 2020, 09:43:51 AM

Was there a 'code' for the fin markings, viz. B1-01 etc?

And were there other ATAIUs elsewhere as well?

Dizzyfugu · November 23, 2020, 10:18:12 AM

I am not certain about the tail code. I always thought that it was the original Japanese code, just ignored by the new operators, but now with the two types side-by-side in the pics it appears as if the BI-XX code is actually an ATAIU item code? No idea what the "BI" means, though. I know that german aircraft carried "FE-XXX" codes, for "Foreign Equipment", so I adapted it for the Kikka.

And, yes, there were other test centers - they were originally operated by the US Forces, e .g. in the Phillipines, AFAIK Seletar was the only station where the RAF was involved and therefor RAF roundels were carried. "Stars and Bars" were more common, and I know about an A6M2-n floatplane that was operated by an (unknown to me) ATAIU station, it but carried French roundels.